FOOTBALL FOCUS ON www.goalweekly.com $3 LOOKING FOR VICTORY’S ROD VARGAS VICTORY OUT OF ASIA VICTORIA’S BEST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI SHOWDOWNS FOOTBALL COVERAGE? Season 4: Issue 11 Monday 28th April 2008 Supporting all colours and reporting in black and white GOLD RUSH! GET GOAL! WEEKLY KNIGHTS PREVAIL IN BALLARAT EVERY MONDAY. Photo by Steve Starek PLUS► ALL THE LATEST FOXTEL CUP, STATE LEAGUE, AVAILABLE FROM ALL GOOD PROVISIONAL LEAGUE, WPL ACTION & MUCH MORE! NEWSAGENTS ACROSS THE STATE. PO Box 142 Port Melbourne 3207 p (03) 9645 1440 e [email protected] www.goalweekly.com Photos by Nome Risteski Goal! Weekly SOCCER HOTLINES FROM THE TERRACES 23 [email protected] MISSION SOUTH AFRICA 2010 WHO’S IN, WHO’S OUT? CHINESE FORTUNE ! HYUNDAI A-LEAGUE SHAPES UP FOR 2008/09 SEASON Behind the scenes at Aussie WCQ in Kumming, China hile most Hyundai A-League has the opportunity to construct a squad of players have been on holidays his own. Jamie Harnwell (2 years), Jamie ADELAIDE UNITED PERTH GLORY e Hao!, or ‘hello’ in Mandarin…. every moment at the stadium. Chinese the fi rst words that greeted a few of supporters decked in red t-shirts and draped during April, there has been Coyne (2 years), James Robinson (1 year), Re-signed – Nathan Burns (2 years), Re-signed – Jamie Harnwell (2 years), plentyW of movement amongst the eight clubs David Tarka (1 year), Jimmy Downey (2 Lucas Pantelis (2 years), Michael Valkanis Jamie Coyne (2 years), James Robinson (1 Nthe travelling Australian supporters in their People’s Republic fl ags constantly as they all look to revamp their squads for years)and Naum Sekulovski (1 year) have (1 year), Angelo Costanzo (1 year), Daniel year), David Tarka (1 year), Jimmy Downey on the tarmac at Kunming airport, most approached Australian supporters waving, the Hyundai A-League 2008/09 season. been re-signed and local Western Austra- Beltrame (1 year) (2 years), Naum Sekulovski (1 year), of whom had travelled thriteen hours saying Ne hao and wanting the odd photo or lian Josip Magdic and Ivorian Eugene Dadi In – Daniel Mullen (1 year), Sasa Ognen- In – Eugene Dadi (1 year, Hapoel Acre, Is- from Australia to south-west China to two. Despite 40,000 people unanimously Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory have also been added to the club. The depar- ovski (Queensland Roar) rael), Josip Magdic (Floreat Athena, WA) experience the Socceroos in their fi rst world chanting to their team to ‘dig deeper’ in have had to delay their off-season break ture of Simon Colosimo (Sydney FC), Leo Out – Bobby Petta (released at completion Out – Simon Colosimo (Sydney FC), Leo cup qualifi er abroad in the Asian Football Mandarin and fi nd a winner, the Chinese due to their participation in the AFC Cham- Bertos (Wellington Phoenix), Billy Celeski of contract), Dez Giraldi (released - after Bertos (Wellington Phoenix), Billy Celeski Confederation zone. supporters never showed any animosity pions League, but that has not stopped (Melbourne Victory) and Stan Lazaridis (re- AFC Champions League), Shaun Ontong (Melbourne Victory), Stan Lazaridis (re- And what an experience it was, during and after the game. (Newcastle Jets), Robert Bajic (released), leased) even before a ball was kicked or a penalty In fact, the Fanatic’s tour leader them adjusting their player rosters accord- leased) will still leave Mitchell with a number Milan Susak (released) ingly. Adelaide United have re-signed Na- of positions to full before the season starts. On-Loan - Jamie Harnwell (to FC Vaduz, saved! Travelling with the Fanatics, the was approached by two of China’s head Switzerland/Liechtenstein) than Burns (2 years), Lucas Pantelis (2 tour organiser picked up our premium supporters and presented with a book before CENTRAL COAST MARINERS AUS $80 tickets from the Chinese football the game, which they both signed. The years), Michael Valkanis (1 year), Angelo Queensland Roar coach Frank Farina has Re-signed – Nigel Boogaard (2 years), authorities the day before the match only author was the patriotically-named Mayday Costanzo (1 year) and Daniel Beltrame (1 travelled to Brazil during the off-season to QUEENSLAND ROAR John Hutchinson (2 years), Mile Jedinak (2 to discover that the majority of Australian Zhang (Chinese name Zhang Wuyi, with year) as well as adding Sasa Ognenovski visit Atletico Mineiro on a fact fi nding mis- Re-signed - Josh McCloughan (2 years), years), Brad Porter (2 years), Matt Simon Griffi n McMaster (2 years) supporters would be sitting another 1000 the Wuyi being the Chinese characters for from Queensland Roar (2 years) and Daniel sion and will also be looking to add some (2 years) metres above altitude, high in the second May 1) and the other was an equally-proud Mullen from the AIS (1 year), with Bobby new names to his team sheet after losing In – Tim Smits (Rochedale Rovers - QLD, In – Adrian Caceres (Melbourne Victory - 2 years), David Dodd (Palm Beach - QLD, 2 tier of Kunming’s Tuodong Stadium! gentleman with a rather extravagant cowboy Petta, Dez Giraldi, Shaun Ontong, Robert Sasa Ognenovski (Adelaide United), Rein- after AFC Champions League), Ahmad El- years) plus the young Queenslander in the To put the price of the match outfi t! Bajic and Milan Susak released by the club. aldo (Busan I’Park, Korea Republic), Simon rich (Wellington Phoenix), Dylan Macallister GC Bulletin ticket in context, it equated one nights Despite the lack of forwards at Left: One lucky Lynch (released) and Marcinho (released). (FC Lyn, Norway) Out – Sasa Ognenovski (Adelaide United), accommodation at a four star hotel where Pim Verbeek’s disposal, Australia had the Australian Melbourne Victory bolstered their squad Local favourites Josh McLoughan and Grif- John Aloisi (end of contract), Tom Out– Reinaldo (Busan I’Park, Korea Republic), Si- the Socceroos were based in Kunming, or two best goal-scoring opportunities during supporter for the AFC Champions League with the re- fi n McMaster have both been rewarded with Pondeljak (Melbourne Victory), Tony Vidmar collecting the mon Lynch (released), Marcinho (released) could easily feed twenty people (yes 20) free play and Schwarzer’s magnifi cent save signing of Daniel Vasilevski (2 years), Steven 2 year contracts each. Young Queenslanders (retired) match ball over indulging at a local restaurant with earned us the vital away point that we so Pace (2 years) and Nick Ward (1 year) as well Tim Smits (Rochedale Rovers - QLD, 2 years) from Mark SYDNEY FC drinks! Something wasn’t right and after richly deserved and kept our momentum Schwarzer! as adding Billy Celeski (Perth Glory – 1 year) and David Dodd (Palm Beach - QLD, 2 years) MELBOURNE VICTORY In – Simon Colosimo (Perth Glory), John relaying our disappointment with the ticket at the top of our group. Post match, and Tom Pondeljak (Central Coast Mariners along with AIS pair of Luke Devere and Isaka Daniel Vasilevski (2 years), Re-signed - Aloisi (Central Coast Mariners), Mark Bridge allocation, offi cials promised to rectify the Schwarzer came and celebrated with the – 2 years), with youngster Nathan Elasi and Cernak the have also recently joined the club Stephen Pace (2 years), Nick Ward (1 (Newcastle Jets), Stuart Musialik (Newcas- situation and miracles happened within the travelling contingent and threw the ball goalkeeper Steve Mautone on board as a for pre-season training. Adam – there’s also a year) tle Jets) space of minutes. Suddenly, our tickets which he saved from the spot into the crowd short-term signings to provide cover during young guy mentioned in today’s GC Bulletin In – Nathan Elasi (6 months – AFC Cham- Out – Mark Rudan (Avispa Fukuoka, Ja- were re-issued and we were now sitting on as a token of his appreciation of our support. Asia’s premier club competition. The Victory pions League only), Billy Celeski (Perth pan), Ufuk Talay (Avispa Fukuoka, Japan), the half way line on the ground tier with a The celebrations kicked on with Mayday released Adrian Caceres and Ljubo Milicevic. has signed Qantas Socceroo John Glory), Tom Pondeljak (Central Coast Mari- David Zdrilic (released), Ruben Zadkovich Sydney FC great view of the pitch. and a few other Chinese and Australian Aloisi (2 years) as the club’s new marquee ners) (Derby County, England), Patrick (released), We all know how the game supporters at a place appropriately named Hyundai A-League 2008 Grand Finalists, the player along with Simon Colosimo (Perth Out – Adrian Caceres (Central Coast Mari- Ben Vidaic (released) unfolded and refl ecting upon the result three Disco. If you didn’t like Disco, there was Central Coast Mariners, have had to re- Glory – 2 years), Stuart Musialik (Newcastle ners – after AFC Champions League), Ljubo On-Loan - Adam Biddle (to Blacktown Milicevic (released) weeks later, a draw was a wonderful and always Disco 1 and Disco 2 next door. build following the departure of John Aloisi Jets – 2 years) and Mark Bridge (Newcastle City, NSW), Ivan Necevski (to Blacktown well deserved result for Australia. Losing Regardless of Kunming’s diverse bar (end of contract), Tom Pondeljak (Mel- Jets – 3 years). Leaving Sydney are former City, NSW), Nick Tsattlios (to Penrith-Ne- pean, NSW) all our forwards in the lead-up to such an names, they all had the same drink specials bourne Victory), Alvin Ceccoli (released) club captain Mark Rudan (Avispa Fukuoka, important match, and then seeing Archie inside – twelve cans of Budweiser beer, a and the retirement of Tony Vidmar. Coach Japan), Ufuk Talay (Avispa Fukuoka, Japan), NEWCASTLE JETS Thompson succumb to injury after ten fruit platter and big cup of popcorn all for Lawrie McKinna has rewarded loyalty and David Zdrilic (released), Ruben Zadkovich Re-signed - Tarek Elrich (2 years), Adam WELLINGTON PHOENIX D’Apuzzo (2 years), Ben Kennedy (2 years) minutes and the 200 Australian supporters $15! Bring on Dubai and Doha in July for performance by offering revised contracts to (Derby County, England), Patrick (released) Re-signed – Vince Lia (2 years) inside the Stadium wondered where any another Asian experience abroad following Nigel Boogaard (2 years), John Hutchinson and Ben Vidaic (released), whilst Adam Bid- In – Jason Naidovski (AIS), Shaun Ontong In – Leo Bertos (2 years - Perth Glory), (Adelaide United) attack would appear from.